A manager was sacked after buying lager and beer as a reward for his hard-working staff.

Teesside freight company Freightliner Limited has been ordered to pay shift manager Mark Stilwell , (pictured)#1,215 compensation after an employment tribunal ruled he had been unfairly dismissed.

Mr Stilwell, 46, of Ormesby, Middlesbrough, lost his job at the Wilton-based company when he told staff that bosses had refused them a shared bonus of #160.

He believed the four crane workers should have been rewarded for working through a two-day power cut and staff shortages, and sent them a case of lager and beer paid for by himself.

He also attached a letter which slammed the company's decision not to pay the bonus.

The tribunal in Thornaby last week heard Mr Stilwell was given a written warning, accusing him of failing to comply with a request after he allegedly turned up late for work.

He was also accused of gross insubordination, which arose from his letter to staff, and then dismissed on June 22 last year.

In the letter he told staff he had been unable to get any recognition for their work other than a letter of recommendation, adding he felt the management response was "highly unsatisfactory".

The tribunal ruled that although the company did have grounds to dismiss Mr Stilwell, it had ignored disciplinary procedures.

Mr Stilwell said: "This was not about the money, it was about clearing my good name. The company tried to smear me and made allegations without foundation.

Now I am vindicated. They are quick to punish people when they have done something wrong, but slow to reward when they have done well."

Tribunal chairman Michael Malone also criticised Mr Stilwell for the contents of his letter which undermined his terminal boss.

He said: "Mr Stilwell did breach the company's trust and confidence. This case could have been avoided if Mr Stilwell had apologised or withdrawn it."

Stan Herschel, of the RMT union, which took on Mr Stilwell's case, said: "This is a tremendous victory. Three senior Freightliner managers were criticised for their handling of disciplinary procedures.

Mr Stilwell tried to reward workers under him and was sacked for that."